California Mortgage Loan Originator Requirements.

Mortgage Education Requirements

This information is intended to provide answers to commonly asked questions. It is not intended to replace detailed information found in your state's statutes and regulations. Though we have made reasonable efforts to ensure that the information given is reliable and current, we cannot guarantee that it is. For more information please take advantage of the resource links below.

Special Notice Regarding NMLS ID Numbers

All MLOs need to have a unique NMLS ID number in order to have their course completions recorded in NMLS. You may obtain your NMLS ID Number and find other important information in the NMLS resource center.
Click here to visit the NMLS resource center.

Mortgage Loan Originators Licensure Quick Facts

All existing California Mortgage Loan Originators and new MLOs must:
• Register with the NMLS and obtain a unique ID Number
• Successfully complete an NMLS approved 20-hour pre-license course, (including 2 hours of California-DFPI state specific IF license will be through the CA-DFPI).
• Pass an NMLS administered national exam to qualify for licensure.
• Pass a national background check

Credit Reporting

Cape will report CE credits to the NMLS within 5 business days of successful completion of the course final exam. We MUST have your NMLS number in order to report your completion (see "Register with the NMLS" above).  

Education Requirements

For information regarding pre-licensing and continuing education requirements and deadlines, the NMLS mandates the following for California:

NMLS requirements for California Department of Business Oversight (DFPI)
NMLS requirements for California Bureau of Real Estate (BRE)

CE Webinars: NMLS requires continuing education webinar classes to be attended from a computer, laptop, or tablet. Cellular devices are not allowed. It is also required that your webcam be on and you be visible during class.

Regarding LATE CE:

We ask that MLOs please verify your need for LATE CE credits before completing a LATE CE course. You can find your education record on your NMLS account. This displays the MLO's entire education history and tracks federal and state education requirements by year. If an MLO does not have a CE requirement for a specific year, the record will display "No Federal CE Requirement" or "No State CE Requirement." If an MLO does not have a federal or state CE requirement, they should not complete a Late CE course. Additionally, if an MLO has a previous year CE requirement, it is only for the last year in which they were previously licensed with that agency. Note that some MLOs who have not been licensed for three or more years may be required to retake PE instead of completing Late CE (see the State-Specific Education Charts for details). Information about how to view the course completion record is available here: Course Completion Records

Contact Information:

If you are having trouble using NMLS or need assistance in using it, phone the NMLS Call Center at (855) 665-7123.

Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System

State Regulatory Registry, LLC
1155 Connecticut Ave. NW
Fifth Floor
Washington, D.C. 20036-4307
NMLS resource center

If you have a question concerning California DFPI licensing requirement or how to use NMLS to meet your state's licensing requirements, please click here:

If you have a question concerning California BRE licensing requirement or how to use NMLS to meet your state's licensing requirements, please click here: